THE BROWN FAIRY BOOK

1904. With Eight Coloured Plates and Numerous Illustrations by H.J. Ford. London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1904. Original brown cloth pictorially decorated in gilt, all page edges gilt.

First Edition of the ninth "Fairy Book," organized and edited by Andrew Lang. There were twelve "Fairy Books" in all, each a different color, published from 1889 (BLUE) through 1910 (LILAC). In these books Lang retold many well-known fairy tales, not only for juveniles but also for adults. In their beautiful pictorial gilt bindings and profusely illustrated (some in color) by Henry J. Ford, these fairy books became immensely popular holiday gifts among family (truncated) members. THE BROWN FAIRY BOOK contains 32 tales including "The Elf Maiden," "The Mermaid and the Boy," "The Enchanted Head," "The Sister of the Sun" and "The Prince and the Three Fates." This copy, with the silver-on-brown pictorial endpapers intact, is in bright, near-fine condition (the slightest of rubbing at the extremities, minor waviness at the fore-edge of some leaves). (Inventory #: 15711)